In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I love words 🙂 Sometimes I’ll hear a line from a movie or a song and it’s like someone has shot an arrow right into my heart. This is particularly true when those words remind me that happiness is simple. It’s a daily decision.
That’s how it was when I first heard the song ‘Living the Dream’ by Down Here. The opening verse starts with There’s a girl, day after her wedding, she doesn’t feel any different than before in so many ways. Then the chorus This is not what I imagined, but this is real life in the trenches.
Have you ever waited so long for something, only to get to the other side and think to yourself, Is this it?.
What’s your dream? What will make you truly happy? Is it an amazing career? The perfect body? Finding the perfect partner or making the one you have better? Is it the perfect house or car? Do you dream of an amazing holiday or adventure? Winning the lottery ?
mmmmm, the lottery…
How much of our life is put on hold until that perfect day?
More importantly, how much are we missing out on along the way?
Your Choice
Have a listen to the song, especially the chorus Every day comes with the promise that it could be great if you want it and we are living the dream. The bridge is the best bit Cos every breath can build up something, tear it down or just leave it be. What’ll it be?
See why I love this song so much? It reminds me that I have a choice, what do I choose to make of every day? What do I choose to make of every moment? It’s about seeing the great things in the little things, because every little thing is a stepping stone to a great thing.
Choosing happiness means acknowledging that I can’t always control what happens to me, but I can choose my response to it and that response determines the course of my life, the quality of my relationships, the level of joy and satisfaction I experience in life.
And while my response determines the outcome, my values determine my response.
What Is The Most Important Thing In Life
In her song ‘Roar’, Katy Perry sings I stood for nothing and I fell for everything. What do you stand for? If you don’t know who you are, how can you know what’s important to you? If you don’t know what’s important to you, how will you know when you’ve achieved it and how will you be able to celebrate when you’ve achieved it?
When my second baby was fifteen she announced that she had decided what she’s going to do with the rest of her life. On the outside I said “That sounds interesting, tell me more”, on the inside I was thinking Right, you’re 15, like you know what you’re going to be doing for the rest of your life. I’m so glad I only said that on the inside because what came next was priceless.
“I’ve decided that instead of focusing on the perfect career, it’s better to focus on figuring out what’s important to me and who I am, that’s when I’ll be really happy.”
Wisdom beyond her years. What she was saying in her own way is that it’s more important to BE rather than to DO.
I recon I’m pretty close to the half way mark of my life and, if I’m honest, there’s so many unfulfilled dreams and so little years to pursue them. Dreams like being a world famous pianist, writer, dancer, singer, actor – heck, why not go for all five? Dreams of having unlimited income and all the amazing things I could do with it, for myself and for others. Dreams of a summer home by the sea and a winter home in the forest by a lake. Dreams of going back to Uni and becoming a doctor, a midwife and an Occupational Therapist. Dreams of amazing adventures and holidays.
And I’m still waiting for that perfect body.
All those things are good, amazing even, but there are better things. Love, Family, Trust, Faith, Humour and Freedom are among some of the values I hold most dear and the ones I experience every day, in every moment, regardless of the circumstances.
When I stop striving to DO and focus on who I want to BE, I see the promise that every day can be great if I want it. I know who I am and what’s important to me and because of that, I’m living the dream.
What about you? What will you choose?
About the Author
SARINA ELDER
Sarina is a Writer with a passion for Making A Difference (MAD).
As a first generation Australian who struggled with cultural identity as a child, Sarina understands the importance of Being, Belonging, and Becoming as a fundamental need in all of us, regardless of age.
As a misunderstood Creative, who was diagnosed with ADHD in her adult years, Sarina is particularly passionate about supporting others to identify and release their Creative, or the Creative in their children, and to embrace the Neurodiversity that accompanies Creativity.
Sarina believes the best way to embrace ourselves is through laughter, and is open to sharing her own stories with the hope of encouraging others.